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Indigenous Community Media Youth Fellowship Call for Proposals

December 12, 2017

Cultural Survival is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Community Media Indigenous Youth Fellowship Project that will support young Indigenous individuals in their efforts to build their capacity as radio broadcasters and journalists through specific trainings, community radio visits or exchanges, radio production, conference attendance, and other identified education and training opportunities. Eligible applicants must reside in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, South Africa, and Nepal.

With years of experience coordinating capacity building efforts through workshops, conferences, radio station exchanges; facilitating the development of regional networks; and supporting lobbying efforts to legalize community media, Cultural Survival’s principles adhere to working with the experience, assets and expertise of the communities that we fund through our Community Media Grants Program. We believe that it is crucial to listen and respond to the needs of the communities in order to provide support that is sustainable, supportive, and most importantly, pertinent to the needs of the community. Indigenous youth are the future of their communities and developing youth leadership is an integral part of ensuring communities’ wellbeing.

This project will provide fellowships to six Indigenous youth broadcasters between the ages of 14 -25 who are committed and eager to learn about technology, program development, the work of other community radios, and international Indigenous rights advocacy. Fellowships will be limited to $4,000 US Dollars per fellow, including project expenses and stipend. Fellowship periods range from 8-10 months from the award date. Preference will be given to applicants associated with current or recent Cultural Survival Community Media Grants Project grantees. Applicants must be able to work and travel independently and be responsible for implementing their proposed projects. Fellows will be paired with a Cultural Survival staff member with relevant expertise who will provide mentorship and support throughout the fellowship.

In providing support, the Community Media Indigenous Youth Fellowship Project is guided by the following priorities:

Responding to the needs of youth in the community, particularly young women and youth leaders.

eg: Fellows may participate in trainings or courses at local or regional universities or with other agencies relevant to the fellowship.

Development of radio content on topics related to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), decolonized history of Indigenous Peoples, protection of lands and resources, Indigenous women’s rights, Indigenous youth issues, cultural and ancestral heritage, national legislation affecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

Fellows may participate in an international forum such as the UN Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with the purpose of bringing their communities’ concerns to the international stage and learning about how these mechanisms work and contribute to Cultural Survival work at the United Nations.

Developing training, workshop facilitation, program development, institutional development, and hands on experience to successfully represent the voices of their communities and bring awareness of local issues to global conversations in relation to indigenous youth.

eg: Fellows may learn how to use and access Free Software program to create an online radio programming to amplify the local issue to an online global platform.

Requirements for eligibility:

Indigenous youth between the ages of 14 to 25

Internet accessibility and other form of communication to creatively collaborate with other fellows and to be able to participate in conference/skype calls.

Commitment and keenness to learn about technology, program development, the work of other community radios, and international Indigenous rights advocacy

Applicants must be able to work and travel independently and be responsible for implementing their proposed projects. Project can be submitted individually or as group of youth from community radio.

Preference will be given to youth working at community radios that have completed projects with Cultural Survival and will have the opportunity to shadow a Cultural Survival staff in relation to their project mandate

Project budget must be within $4, 000 US Dollars

*The first phase of proposals is the submission of concept letter, audio or video recording detailing the conception of the project. The letter should be limited to one page and the recording should not exceed three minutes. If chosen, the coordinator will be in touch to request additional information. The concept proposal application is designed to be accessible to individuals with different capacities. The application process will be open until JANUARY 15, 2018.

The concept proposal, audio recording, or video shall include:

1. Applicant’s name, age and a brief explanation of the mission and vision of your community radio.

2. Length of time volunteering at your community radio.

3. Tell us about your project.

4. What type of support are you requesting?

5. How will you report on the project if the application is successful?

6. How is your project related to your long term goals in community media and/or your goals for your community radio?

Projects will be selected based on their creative expression, sustainability, vision, and content towards Indigenous rights. The projects are to be completed in a period of 8-10 months and must demonstrate measurable and concrete results of how the radio’s capacity and impact has advanced.